Among Israelis, Obama’s Trip Nets an Image Boost

US President Barack Obama, left, listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their visit to the Children’s Memorial at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, Israel, Friday, March 22, 2013.

President Barack Obama convinced a large number of Israelis that his administration isn’t pro-Palestinian during his visit and charm campaign last week to the Mideast, according to a newspaper poll.

The Jerusalem Post reported Friday that its survey showed that the number of Israelis who consider the Obama administration “more pro-Palestinian” fell to 16% after the visit, from 36% before the president’s trip.

The number of Israelis who see Obama as “more pro-Israel” rose only one point as a result of the visit, to 27%, the Post said.

But the net result was that Obama’s visit in effect turned his image around among Israelis, from more pro-Palestinian to more pro-Israeli.

The Post and Smith Research polled 500 Israelis three days before Obama’s March 20 arrival and repeated the survey after Obama left. The survey has an error margin of 4 points, the newspaper said.

Overall, 27% consider the administration more pro-Israel and 16% more pro-Palestinian, while 39% were neutral. Eighteen percent didn’t an express an opinion.

While the newspaper didn’t survey Palestinians, analysts said the Obama visit was focused on improving ties with Israelis, while Palestinians complained of a lack of White House support.

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